Mercedes historic downtown · Akissforme / CC BY-SA 3.0Texas - Mercedes through Miller Dam - NARA - 68149596 (cropped) · Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided / Public domainMercedes tx 2016-08-29- · Valleyite12 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Mercedes is a small city of 16,361 in Texas, with a median household income of $43,243
and a 8.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Mercedes stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Mercedes is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Mercedes city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 85.6
Mercedes's overall cost of living index is 85.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Mercedes costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Mercedes, TX
National Avg
Median Home Value
$102,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$625
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
68.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$43,243
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Mercedes's violent crime rate is 402.5 per 100,000 residents
— 6% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
402.5 /100k
Property Crime
3208.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Mercedes is served primarily by MERCEDES ISD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Mercedes, TX
National Avg
School District
MERCEDES ISD
—
Elementary Schools
4
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
69.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Mercedes sees average highs of 71.3°F in January
and 95.7°F in July,
with 25.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.2 inches of snow per year.
Mercedes's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Mercedes roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $102,100 and median rent is $625/month.
Mercedes's violent crime rate is 402.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3208.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Mercedes are operated by MERCEDES ISD.
The district has 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1. 15.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Mercedes, TX has a population of 16,361, a median household income of $43,243, and an unemployment rate of 8.3%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Mercedes averages 71.3°F in January and 95.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 25.7 inches
with about 0.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Mercedes, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 78570.
The population of Mercedes, Texas is 16,361 with a median age of 33.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mercedes: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $102,100, median household income $43,243, crime index 125 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mercedes side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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